Doctor sentenced in Matthew Perry ketamine case receives 2½ years in prison

A doctor who sold ketamine to “Friends” star Matthew Perry in the weeks leading up to his fatal overdose has been sentenced to 2½ years in federal prison. Dr. Salvador Plasencia, 44, received the punishment along with two years of probation Wednesday in a Los Angeles courtroom.

The judge, Sherilyn Peace Garnett, stressed that Plasencia did not supply the specific ketamine responsible for Perry’s death. However, she said he knowingly fueled Perry’s addiction and continued to profit from it, telling him directly in court that he “helped Mr. Perry on the road to such an ending.”

Plasencia pleaded guilty in July to four felony counts of distributing ketamine. According to prosecutors, the actor turned to Plasencia for larger quantities of the powerful anesthetic after his own physician refused to increase his dosage. Court filings revealed messages where Plasencia described Perry as someone who could be exploited for money.

Perry’s mother and two half-sisters gave emotional statements before the sentencing, reflecting on the beloved actor’s lifelong struggle with addiction. “The world mourns my brother,” said Madeleine Morrison. “He was everyone’s favorite friend.”

Prosecutors had pushed for a three-year sentence, while the defense asked for one day in custody followed by probation. Plasencia was taken into custody immediately after sentencing as family members watched tearfully.

The doctor is the first among five defendants who have pleaded guilty in connection with Perry’s 2023 death to be sentenced. The remaining defendants are scheduled to appear in court in the coming months.

Matthew Perry became a household name as Chandler Bing on NBC’s megahit “Friends,” starring in the comedy series’ ten-season run from 1994 to 2004. He was 54 years old.

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